Proximate, Phytochemical and Antibacterial Properties of Ethanol Extracts of Zeamays and Teiferia occidentalis Plant Leaves from Plastic Enriched Compost Soil in Edo State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined proximate, phytochemical and antibacterial properties of ethanol extracts of maize (Zea mays) and pumpkin (Terferia occidentalis) plant leaves from plastics enriched compost soil in Edo State, Nigeria using standard techniques. In this study, the highest phytochemicals constituents were found in control plants with saponin and flavonoid being the most abundant. However, observable decrease and absence of some photochemical constituent were observed in plastic enriched plants. Thus, the presence of microplastic in the soil may have played a part in the reduction of plant phytochemical constituent and possibly reduce the antibacterial properties of our medicinal plant. In proximate analyses, it was observed that phytochemical parameters such as protein, fat, fiber, and carbohydrate, decreased in percentage as the microplastic concentration increases in the soil.